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UCF Baseball falls to Stetson 8-4 in midweek matchup
Knights unable to overcome early deficit against in-state rival
Mar. 25, 2026 at 4:44am
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The UCF baseball team fell behind early and could not recover, losing 8-4 to Stetson on Tuesday night. The Hatters jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning and added runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings to build a comfortable advantage. UCF's offense was held in check for most of the game before scoring four runs in the eighth inning, but it was not enough to overcome the early deficit.
Why it matters
This loss snaps a recent hot streak for UCF, who had won 11 of their previous 13 games. The Knights were looking to build momentum heading into a key Big 12 series against Arizona this weekend, but the defeat to in-state rival Stetson is a setback. The game also featured several connections between the two programs, adding extra significance to the matchup.
The details
Stetson jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning, scoring the runs on a walk, a wild pitch, a hit batter and a pair of run-scoring hits. The Hatters added single runs in the third and fourth innings, then scored twice more in the fifth to build an 8-0 advantage. UCF's offense was held in check for most of the game, not scoring until a two-run home run by Andrew Williamson in the eighth inning. The Knights added two more unearned runs in the eighth but were unable to complete the comeback.
- The game was played on Tuesday, March 25, 2026.
- UCF and Stetson are scheduled to play again on April 7 in Orlando and April 29 in Lakeland.
The players
Kaniel Rosado
The UCF starting pitcher, who recorded just one out and was charged with four runs in the first inning.
Landon Russell
The Stetson player who delivered a two-run double in the first inning to help the Hatters jump out to an early lead.
Samuel Fernandez
The Stetson player who followed Russell's double with an RBI single in the first inning.
Andrew Williamson
The UCF player who hit a two-run home run in the eighth inning to provide the Knights' first offense of the game.
Greg Lovelady
The former UCF head coach who is now on Stetson's coaching staff.
What’s next
UCF will now turn its attention to a Big 12 series against Arizona this weekend in Orlando, while the Knights and Hatters are scheduled to meet again on April 7 in Orlando and April 29 in Lakeland.
The takeaway
This loss is a setback for UCF as they look to build momentum heading into conference play, but the Knights will have a chance to redeem themselves against Stetson in the coming weeks. The game also highlighted the long-standing rivalry between the two in-state programs.
